Study in the United States
The most prestigious universities in the world and the destination with the most generous scholarships for Romanians. At some of them, a middle-income family ends up paying close to nothing.
In the USA you choose your major only in year 2 or 3 and you can combine several fields. Admissions are holistic: your whole package counts, not just your grades. And for a Romanian student with a strong application, the real cost can be far below the sticker price.
What is different here
Three things that most often surprise Romanian families when they compare the USA with Europe.
Holistic admissions
You do not get in on grades alone. What counts is essays, activities, leadership and recommendations. A strong story can beat higher grades.
Need-based scholarships
The published price is rarely the real one. At need-blind universities, applying for aid does not lower your chances, and the scholarship can cover almost everything.
Flexible specialization
You declare your major only in year 2 and you can combine fields. Liberal arts means you explore before you decide.
Choose your path
Two categories, two detailed guides. The Ivy League and the rest of the elite universities.
The 8 Ivy League universities
The most prestigious and selective universities in the USA. Six of the eight are need-blind for internationals and cover 100% of the financial need of admitted Romanians.
- Harvard · Yale · Princeton · Columbia · UPenn · Brown · Cornell · Dartmouth
The rest of the elite universities
Just as competitive as the Ivy League, but outside the league. Powerhouses in STEM, business and medicine. MIT is need-blind for internationals, and many others fully cover demonstrated need.
- MIT · Stanford · Caltech · UChicago · Duke · Northwestern · Johns Hopkins · UC Berkeley
How you apply, in short
The American process in 6 steps. The specific details are on each university's page.
Build your profile from 11th grade
Good grades, but also high-impact activities, projects, olympiads. They look for depth, not a long list.
Take the SAT or ACT and prove your English
Many top universities require SAT or ACT again in 2026. Plus TOEFL or IELTS if your high school was not taught in English.
Write the essays
The Common App essay plus the ones specific to each university are the part that sets you apart. Start the summer before 12th grade.
Apply through the Common App
A single form for up to 20 universities. Early in November, Regular usually January 1.
Apply for aid (need-based aid)
You complete the CSS Profile and the university's forms. This is where what you actually pay is decided.
Accept the offer and get the F-1 visa
You receive the I-20, pay SEVIS and do the F-1 interview at the US Embassy in Bucharest.
Want to study at a university in the USA?
We help you build your profile, choose the right universities, write essays that stand out, and navigate the Common App, scholarships and the F-1 visa. The first session is 100% free.
Talk to a mentorFrequently asked questions
What Romanian students and their parents most often ask about studying in the USA.
How much does a university in the USA actually cost for a Romanian?
The published cost (sticker price) at top universities is around 80,000-90,000 USD per year, but very few people pay that much. At the eight universities that are need-blind for internationals (among them Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton), need-based aid can cover almost everything. A middle- or low-income family frequently ends up with a net cost of 0-30,000 USD per year, sometimes even zero.
What is the Common App and how many universities can I apply to?
The Common App is the shared platform through which you apply to most universities in the USA with a single form: personal details, transcript, activities and the main essay. You can submit to a maximum of 20 universities. Each one may additionally ask for supplemental essays. The Romanian Baccalaureate is accepted as a high school diploma.
Do I need the SAT or ACT in 2026?
For 2026, many top universities have returned to requiring the SAT or ACT after the test-optional years. Always check each university's requirement, because they differ. A good score strengthens your application even where it is optional. As a Romanian you also need TOEFL or IELTS if your high school was not taught in English.
Is the Romanian Baccalaureate accepted?
Yes. The Romanian Baccalaureate is recognized as a high school completion diploma. American universities, however, look at the whole package: your grades and transcript from grades 9-12, your SAT or ACT score, proof of English, the essays, the activities and the recommendations. There is no single entrance exam, but a holistic evaluation.
What is the difference between the Ivy League and the rest of the elite universities?
The Ivy League is a group of eight universities in the northeastern USA (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, UPenn, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth), linked historically and through sport. "Top non-Ivy" means universities that are just as selective, but outside the league: MIT, Stanford, Caltech, UChicago, Duke and others. Many non-Ivy schools have admission rates and prestige equal to or above the Ivies, especially in STEM. The difference is more about the label than the quality.
How do I get the student visa for the USA?
Once you are admitted and accept the offer, the university issues the I-20 form. You pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 form and schedule the F-1 visa interview at the US Embassy in Bucharest. At the interview you prove your admission and your ability to financially support your studies. The F-1 visa also lets you work on-campus, plus internships through CPT and OPT.
Our mentors for the USA
They have been there. They went through the process. Now they guide you.
